When your trees arrive, remove them carefully from the package and free the leaves from the bag. The trees have been in transit for multiple days in complete darkness and 100% humidity. Make sure to transition your Kratom trees into their new environment by using a humidity dome (common clear plastic tub, large bag, etc.) and slowly begin to introduce more fresh air to its environment each day for about 3-5 days or until the plant is acclimated to its new environment. For Kratom Seedlings, make sure to transition them into their new environment over a 1-2 week period or until acclimated. Kratom seedlings are more sensitive to environmental change and take a little more time to acclimate. In addition, make sure to keep the trees in indirect sunlight for the first two days. By following these steps, you will prevent the tree from experiencing shock, going from one extreme environment to another so quickly.
Once your Kratom trees have acclimated to their new environment, they should be grown in partial or shaded sunlight for maximum growth. Kratom can certainly tolerate and grow in full sunlight but the most effective growth is seen in partial shade as the Kratom tree would experience under the jungle canopy in the wild.
You should transplant your new trees within the first 5-10 days as they will be fully rooted in the cup and ready for transplant. You will want to purchase high nutrient organic potting soil such as Fox Farms Ocean Forrest (or any other organic soil) and high-nitrogen liquid fish fertilizer (fish emulsion) to assure these trees receive the high amount of nutrients they require to reach full potential. Kratom loves nitrogen, so liquid fish fertilizer with a 5-1-1 Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium ratio is ideal. In your soil mixture, make sure to mix in roughly 15% perlite to assure proper drainage and aeration of the soil. While drainage is essential, its important to remember the soil should not drain so much that it would release all the water around the roots. Moisture is key for a healthy Kratom tree. Kratom loves water, so make sure to water your trees daily if outdoor or every 2-3 days when grown indoor!
To control pests and fungal diseases, you will want to purchase 100% organic Neem oil and SuffOil-X. For standard pest and fungal disease control that can be applied directly to the leaves without burning, SuffOil-X is the way to go which is extremely effective and utilizes all natural mineral oil to suffocate the insects and control certain fungal diseases. Neem oil is another option that’s very effective against aphids, spider mites and other common pests. Neem oil can burn Kratom leaves from sunlight exposure and it is recommended to use it directly on the leaves when it is absolutely necessary and make sure it is properly diluted. If burn spots or deformation is observed on the leaves from the neem oil getting too hot from the sun post-application, don’t worry, the trees are fine and all new growth will be healthy, unaffected and those pests will be long gone.
The optimal temperature range for growing Kratom is (70-90) degrees Fahrenheit. Kratom grows much faster in their optimal temperature range during the Spring/Summer months. As temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you will observe their growth rate slows down significantly. If you plan to grow Kratom trees in areas around the USA that get below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, it is recommended to invest in a greenhouse or indoor grow tent and grow light to assure that you can grow your Kratom trees year-round without any worries of harming the foliage or potentially killing the tree during freezes. Kratom trees under a year old are more susceptible to damage during cold fronts so it it highly recommended to bring your younger trees indoor with any cold fronts below 60 deg F.
Kratom is very resilient and acclimates very well to different environments. By following these basic steps, you will have flourishing Kratom Trees! Call or text us at (409) 240-0355 for any questions you may have in regards to growing Kratom.